#StolenCheck #BankFraud #FinancialLoss #ScamAlert #FightingBack
Hey there, have you ever experienced the gut-wrenching feeling of losing a substantial amount of money due to a stolen check? 🤯 It’s a nightmare scenario that no one wants to find themselves in, but unfortunately, it happens more often than you might think. In this article, we’ll tackle the issue head-on and provide practical solutions to help you navigate this challenging situation.
## The Problem: $7000 Gone in an Instant 💸
Imagine sending off a rent check to your landlord, only to have it mysteriously disappear. You shrug it off, thinking it’ll turn up eventually. Fast forward to a few months later, and you discover that someone has cashed a forged check for a whopping $7000! The shock, anger, and helplessness wash over you as you realize the gravity of the situation. Your bank can’t offer immediate solutions, and your rent is looming on the horizon. What can you do to get your hard-earned money back?
### Step 1: Act Swiftly and Assertively ⏱️
The first crucial step is to act swiftly and assertively to minimize further damage. Contact your bank immediately to report the fraudulent activity and freeze your account if necessary. Provide as much information as possible, such as the details of the forged check and any relevant documentation you have. Time is of the essence in situations like these, so don’t delay in taking action.
### Step 2: File Official Reports and Investigations 🕵️♂️
In addition to contacting your bank, it’s essential to file official reports with authorities such as the USPS and local law enforcement. A USPS investigation claim can help track down the missing check, while a police report adds an extra layer of protection against potential identity theft or fraud. Make sure to document all interactions and keep copies of any paperwork for future reference.
### Step 3: Stay Persistent and Informed 💪
Throughout this ordeal, it’s crucial to stay persistent and informed about the progress of the investigation. Follow up with your bank regularly to check on the status of their internal review and provide any additional information they may require. Keep a record of all communication and document any new developments to strengthen your case.
## Will You Get Your Money Back? The Verdict 🤞
As you navigate through the complexities of retrieving your stolen funds, you might be wondering: will you ever get your $7000 back? While the outcome is uncertain, taking proactive steps and following through with official procedures significantly increases your chances of a successful resolution. Remember, you’re not alone in this fight, and there are resources and support available to help you reclaim what’s rightfully yours.
In conclusion, dealing with a stolen check and a significant financial loss can be a daunting experience. However, by acting decisively, seeking assistance from the appropriate authorities, and staying persistent throughout the process, you can increase your chances of recovering the stolen funds. Stay strong, stay vigilant, and don’t give up until justice is served. 💪💰
Stay safe, stay informed, and remember that you have the power to overcome this setback. Best of luck on your journey to getting back what’s rightfully yours! 🌟
File a police report, give the bank the info, if they rule against you file a CFPB complaint. Take a breath and let them do their investigation, no point stressing, it will take some time.
You will get the money back, although it could take a bit. Particularly since the post office was right there, next time walk inside. Use the slot inside the building if you can. Most leave the lobby open later so people can access the boxes and mail slot.
The worst thing here is that the obvious way to prevent this is to stop payment on the check, but banks (at least in the US) just *rip* you off in “stopped check fees” ($30 or more per check). That’s utterly unconscionable.
Ask the bank for a provisional credit. I’m surprised they did not offer that since it’s so obviously fraud. I mean, what’s the point in having a signature card on file if anyone can sign it and the bank accepts it? I get that they can not check every single check because of shear volume, but if it gets reported as fraud and the signature doesn’t match, it’s a no brainer.
Why are checks used in the USA instead of just internet banking payments straight into the landlord’s account? Set up an automatic payment and you’re good to go, never miss rent and it can’t go missing.
You should get a bilt Mastercard to pay rent. It gives you fraud protection with $0 liability like all CCs do. Except you get points with it, I would honestly do that going forward. Obviously a check was a bad idea, but I really hope this works out for you. Shit sucks
Good luck. I had to hound chase about a stolen check for almost a year before I got my money back. Eventually had to go into a branch and speak with someone to get anything done. Then they didn’t want to pay me until Bank of America paid them (bank that cashed the check even though signature didn’t match). Chase had also sent the check for me 🙃
So, Im confused. If the check to your landlord was stolen, how was it not filled out and then filled in with the thief’s information? It seems like these might not be related?
Don’t do this crap over the phone. Go into a branch.
$7000 warrants walking into a bank and speaking to a supervisor. Be polite, explain the issue show, them the picture of the forged check and show them pictures of other checks you’ve written. Tell them you filed an USPS investigation claim, you’re in the process of filing a police report, and that rent is due in a few days. Ask for a provisional credit. Tell them that you understand that these things happen, but you’re not impressed with how things have gone so far with Chase and that you’d like to keep using them if they can help you sort this out.
Second, talk to your landlord. Explain the situation, send them any documentation of police reports etc. Tell them you have talked to your bank. Tell them you have the money and if needed show your other bank account in person and explain the situation regarding how long a transfer takes to post. In both cases, the best thing is to talk in person, politely and patiently.
Odds are that you will get your money back. At last resort you’d have to file a complaint with CFBP but first try the easy fast solutions of talking to people.
Who would commit such an obvious felony, wire fraud for several k. Hopefully you get this issue resolved ASAP OP, just shocking someone thought they would succeed in such an obvious crime.
When you do eventually get this resolved, stop sending checks in the mail. Chase has a *free* bill pay service and will mail a paper check if they aren’t able to do an electronic transfer to the recipient. It’s super nice because they generate one-time account and routing numbers like a cashier’s check, so the risk of check washing is all but eliminated.
Also print out a copy of the check image to submit to the police.
You can even type up and sign a paper listing the checks correct info (payee,amount,date,etc.) and when and where you mailed it.
Submit the letter and the police report case number to Chase.
Call, escalate, mention that you’ll file a complaint with the OCC (national bank regulator), and demand a provisional credit for the full amount. If you don’t get the credit after explaining it’s obviously fraudulent, then file a complaint with the OCC.
Similar happened to me, took some time but eventually got it back.
Always file a police report for any counterfeit checks, stolen credit cards, and unauthorized charges. Always.
Do it first thing tomorrow. Go to your sherrifs office or local police station and get it done. I’d even print off images of the check from your bank for the report.
Same thing happened to my husband. A check stolen from blue mail box right in front of the post office was washed and forged. It was cashed right at the Chase where we banked. The forgery was soooooo obviously, any idiot could see, yet, the Chase teller cashed it. It took over a month to get the $$$ back. We no longer bank with Chase.
I saw a video from a postman that shows how theifs will put cardboard in the drop boxes with double side tape to block mail from falling in then come snatch it
It never hurts to place a stop payment on a lost check, but issue with that is it’s based on the check number an amount. If the check was altered to a different amount then it might have not even worked.
Although it sounds based on your other post the check looks different than your normal checks so it’s not even an altered check, but they used the info to make a totally different fake check with your account info.
How did the check writing thieves know that they could write a check for $7000 against OP account and that it wouldn’t bounce? How did they cash the check? Where did they cash the check? Lots of questions that are unanswered.
I was super stressed when a $9000 check made out to me got stolen from my mail, but I eventually got it back after 6 months. I made a million phone calls but I got it back. The bank that cashed it is liable for replacing it. Hang in there, I’m sorry this happened to you but there is hope. It was a Wells Fargo that cashed the fraudulent check which had been made out to someone else under my signature. Moving forward, use gel pens if you must write a check because those are harder to erase and check wash with. Also it’s a good practice to actually mail checks from inside the post office and not a blue box.
Good luck!!!
I had this happen! My coworkers and I had sent several checks via FedEx. Someone took the entire envelope and cashed all the checks. Maybe $250 total, so not a ton of money. My credit union was awesome, they refunded my money right away when I filed the claim. My coworkers had various other banks that were not as helpful, honestly not sure they ever got their money back. Anyway, I didn’t realize to that point how incredibly easy it is for someone to fraudulently cash a check! I hope you are able to recover the money.
Chase is the absolute worst for fraud. I work with them a lot for a bunch of business accounts and I could write a book on how shitty they deal with fraud. They make us sign up for different types of fraud “protection” and charge you money for it and also have you manage the system. Then, when these “protections” fail, which is easy since they don’t really work, you are left hanging to dry and hope they get your money back….. which, if you’re lucky, will take about 6 months.
They could have stopped that check from clearing within the first 24 hours and that could have ended it. That’s how Fifth Third has worked on these situations in my experience. Once the check clears, now you have to file all the bullshit paperwork and just wait for these useless assholes.
Things like this make it even more amazing that something as archaic as cheques is still a thing in the US when there are so many MUCH more secure and quicker options.
Go into the bank and speak to the bank manager. They have so many days to resolve the issue. If it is not resolved then put in a [https://www.consumerfinance.gov/](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/) complaint
I had this happen. Went into Chase. They credited me for the amount and changed my account number immediately so it could not happen again. They couldn’t have been better about it!
So, my reaction is completely different. This is on whomever accepted a forged check without ID and/pr other forms of verification. Its such an obvious forged check based on the large amount. Bank should have immediately rejected it. The fact that they had to “let it post”. I would have said. Absolutely not! Its obvious fraud. The bank letting it post makes them complicit. They should have had mechanisms for putting an immediate stop to it. I mean not only am I done with this bank if it was me but I wouldnlet them know I would continue to persue outside means if it was not immediately resolved. Christ. If NSF then there weren’t even funds in the account to cover it. It should have been rejected immediately.
You will get the money back in my experience. It may take them way longer than it should though. I would start planning how to cover rent, etc before it goes back in, borrow from a friend, family, credit card.
I would also visit the bank directly and get them to put a hold on your account or change accounts, because now a thief has your account number and may make more fraudulent checks with the account number.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/09/business/check-fraud.html
This happened to me three weeks ago. I put a rent check in the mail in front of the post office and somehow someone got it and erased my landlord’s name and put their name.
It was actually Capital One that noticed it could be fraudulent since it was cashed earlier than usual. They reversed it pretty much the same day and we got our money back within a day or two thankfully.
Renters insurance typically covers a portion of this as well. 1000$. I would look at your insurance policy. Just a little side advice. Just in case. You’re out all that money.